Snodgrass remembered by Historic Sportscar Racing racers

Sunday

Nov 11, 2012 at 5:38 PM

Bob Snodgrass was the epitome of sportscar racing and even though he died five years ago, his memory and ideals about the sport carry forward to this day. To honor Snodgrass and his many contributions to the sportscar community, Historic Sportscar Racing held a two-hour race in his name Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

GODWIN KELLYMOTORSPORTS EDITOR

DAYTONA BEACH — Bob Snodgrass was the epitome of sportscar racing, and even though he died five years ago, his memory and ideals about the sport carry forward to this day.

To honor Snodgrass and his many contributions to the sportscar community, Historic Sportscar Racing held a two-hour race in his name Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

The Bob Snodgrass Enduro Classic was won by Shane Lewis and Gary Ball, who shared a Porsche 997, and then shared their memories of the sportscar giant, who helped build Jacksonville-based Brumos Racing into a powerhouse sportscar team.

“I was very fortunate to know Bob, both professionally and as a friend,” Lewis said. “He really was an amazing guy both for amateur and pro racing. To win this race is really an honor.”

Lewis said he started to think about Snodgrass in the closing laps of the race, which capped three hectic days of HSR races over the 3.56-mile road course.

“Before the race, I was focused on the event,” Lewis said. “The last couple of laps, it hit me.”

Bill Riddell of Fernandina Beach won Sunday's Cayman class and finished seventh overall. He said he knew Snodgrass for 35 years, and it was Snodgrass' influence that got him into racing.

“About 16 years ago, I bought a Porsche from Brumos in Jacksonville, and Bob took me up to Savannah and that's what started it,” Riddell said. “He put me under his wing.”

Ron Barnaba of Westmont, Ill. worked with Snodgrass for 10 years before becoming general manager at Napleton Porsche and founder of the Pirelli/Cayman Inter-series.

Barnaba was driving a car for Snodgrass at Sebring and was running out of gas. He radioed to Snodgrass that he needed to pit for fuel. Snodgrass denied the request.

On the next lap, Barnaba pitted against orders and found a sign on a piece of cardboard in the team's pit area.

“The sign read, ‘Crew's gone. Went to dinner. Fuel the car yourself,' " Barnaba said. “There was no one standing in the pit, just the sign. They were all hiding. He would do silly stuff like that all the time.”

And Riddell had this to offer about Snodgrass.

“I went in the dealership to buy parts one time and they used have a popcorn machine in the lobby,” Riddell said. “Bob was a massive man with giant hands, and he's talking to me, grabbing popcorn, licking his fingers, sticking his hands back in there. I went home that night and told my wife, ‘Don't eat that popcorn.' "